Initial Teacher Training courses

All students taking an initial teacher training course (ie a PGCE or a BA(Hons) with QTS), need to satisfy the academic requirements we set for our courses and the entry requirements and conditions determined by the government.

The selection process for all initial teacher training courses include an interview.

Confirm you meet the entry requirements

You can use our course finder to confirm what the standard academic entry requirements are for all our courses leading to QTS.

All applicants for these courses must hold a GCSE at a minimum grade C or equivalent in both mathematics and English language. Applicants for Primary Education courses must also have a GCSE science at a minimum of C.

You must also be able to read effectively and communicate clearly in spoken and written standard English.

Before starting an Initial teacher education course you will need to:

complete a medical questionnaire

provide a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate

successfully complete the professional skills tests.

Advice about professional skills tests

The Department for Education has introduced Professional Skills Tests in literacy and numeracy for all teacher training that leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). These tests are compulsory, and it will not be possible to enter training without having successfully completed them. Candidates are able to book these tests in advance, and the Department for Education strongly advises you to take the tests soon after you have submitted an application.

The University of Brighton recognises that these tests may present a real challenge to some candidates and we recommend that you prepare carefully before attempting them, as you are limited to only three attempts per test. For this reason we will not insist that undergraduate applicants have passed the tests before they come to an interview and although having already passed the tests may give you a clear advantage, we will be prepared to consider your capacity to pass and potentially make you an offer of a place subject to their successful completion.

When we make such an offer you will be given a clear deadline, usually within 2 to 3 months of your interview, so we advise that you plan ahead and book your tests well in advance so that you can organise your preparation.

Initial teacher education courses are regularly reviewed and often revised in response to new government requirements.

Two-year BA courses with QTS

A-level-equivalent qualifications are not sufficient for entry on to these courses. You need to hold either an HND or Foundation Degree equivalent qualification or a minimum of 120 credits in a relevant area of study at higher education level.